Tours

Hoi An to launch electric cars for tourists

Illustrative images (Source: Internet)

The ancient city of Hoi An will launch three routes of public
battery-powered cars to serve tourists, starting in January, Vice
Chairman of the city’s People’s Committee Nguyen Van Son confirmed to
Viet Nam News.

Son said it’s the first stage of a pilot project to boost
environment-friendly public transport in the tourism hub of central
Vietnam.

He said the city will use 50 six and eight-seat cars to shuttle between
the Tan An public car park to the old town and favourite beaches of An
Bang and Cua Dai.

Son said the project will also help reduce car pollution in the UNESCO-recognised world heritage city.

He said the city would consider using solar power panels on the battery-powered cars in the second stage of the project.

Since 2002, Hoi An has earmarked several streets for pedestrian and
non-engine vehicles to reduce noise and ensure people’s safety in the
old quarter, where most foreign tourists use bicycles.

The city also plans to provide 100,000 bicycles for residents’ use in order to become the first eco-city in Vietnam.

Earlier this year, the UNESCO-recognised world heritage city of Hoi An,
and Naha City, the capital of Japan’s Okinawa Prefecture, agreed to
commence the third phase of the Eco-city Achievement Support Project.

Last year, Hoi An began the first trial of a public van route connecting
major destinations, with funding from the Japan Fund for Global
Environment.-VNA